Before And After Sleep Apnea Treatment: What To Expect

Sleep apnea is a common yet serious sleep disorder that disrupts breathing during sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and various health risks. Treatment options, such as CPAP therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgery, can make a significant difference in managing the condition and improving overall well-being.

In this blog, we discuss what to expect when it comes to treating sleep apnea, especially if you’re planning to use CPAP therapy

Let’s dive in!

How Does Sleep Apnea Work?

Sleep apnea typically manifests in two primary forms: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): The most common type, OSA occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax excessively. This relaxation causes the airway to narrow or close, leading to a pause in breathing. The brain detects this lack of oxygen and briefly awakens you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you don’t remember it. This cycle can occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night, severely disrupting your sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Less common than OSA, CSA occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked, but the brain doesn't instruct the body to breathe. CSA can be related to underlying medical conditions, such as heart failure or stroke.

Here are symptoms indicating that you may have sleep apnea:

• Loud Snoring: One of the most common signs of sleep apnea, particularly OSA, is loud, chronic snoring. This occurs as air squeezes through a narrowed or partially blocked airway.
• Gasping or Choking: Individuals with sleep apnea may experience episodes of gasping or choking during sleep as the brain prompts the body to reopen the airway.
• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Due to the repeated interruptions in sleep, people with sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, even after a full night's sleep.
• Morning Headaches: Frequent morning headaches are common due to oxygen deprivation during sleep.
• Difficulty Concentrating: Sleep apnea can lead to cognitive issues, such as trouble concentrating, memory problems, and irritability.
• Dry Mouth or Sore Throat: Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat is a common symptom, as many people with sleep apnea breathe through their mouths at night.
• Mood Changes: Sleep apnea can cause mood swings, anxiety, and depression due to the chronic lack of restful sleep. 

With this foundational knowledge in mind, let’s now look at what you can do about sleep apnea.

What Can I Do About Sleep Apnea?

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, seek medical evaluation and treatment, as untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of accidents due to daytime sleepiness.

Steps to take include:

1. Consult a Doctor: If you exhibit symptoms of sleep apnea, the first step is to talk to your primary care physician. They may refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation.

2. Undergo a Sleep Study: Polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea. This test monitors your breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, and other vital signs while you sleep, either in a sleep lab or through a home sleep apnea test. Results from the sleep study will help determine the severity of your sleep apnea and guide treatment options.

3. Lifestyle Changes: If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can significantly reduce the severity of sleep apnea by decreasing fat deposits around the neck that can obstruct the airway. Avoid alcohol and sedatives as these substances relax the muscles in the throat, increasing the likelihood of airway obstruction during sleep.

4. Sleep On Your Side: Sleep apnea symptoms often worsen when sleeping on your back. Positional therapy involves using devices like body pillows to encourage side sleeping. Our Cuddler, for instance, is an ergonomically designed body pillow made of natural Melofoam, ensuring satisfyingly squashy support as you lie on your side.

5. CPAP Therapy: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. A CPAP machine delivers a steady stream of air through a mask worn over the nose or mouth, keeping the airway open throughout the night. Other devices, such as bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines or adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) machines, may be used in cases of CSA or complex sleep apnea.

6. Oral Appliances: For those with mild to moderate OSA or who cannot tolerate CPAP, an oral appliance may be recommended. These custom-fitted devices reposition the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open during sleep.

7. Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove or shrink excess tissue in the throat, reposition the jaw, or correct structural abnormalities that contribute to sleep apnea.

Next, let’s look at what to expect if you opt for sleep apnea treatment using CPAP therapy.

What To Expect After Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Treating sleep apnea, especially with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, can bring significant improvements in your quality of life. Here are some differences you might expect before and after starting CPAP therapy:

	BEFORE	AFTER
SLEEP QUALITY	Frequent interruptions in breathing can cause fragmented sleep, leaving you tired even after a full night's rest.	The CPAP machine helps keep your airway open, leading to more restful and uninterrupted sleep.
DAYTIME SLEEPINESS	You may experience excessive daytime sleepiness, which can affect your concentration, memory, and overall productivity.	With better sleep, you'll likely feel more alert and energetic during the day.
SNORING	Loud, disruptive snoring is common due to the obstruction of airways during sleep.	CPAP effectively reduces or eliminates snoring, making sleep more comfortable for both you and anyone sharing your space.
MORNING HEADACHES	Waking up with headaches is common, often due to decreased oxygen levels during the night.	Consistent oxygen levels throughout the night can reduce or eliminate morning headaches.
BLOOD PRESSURE	Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to hypertension due to the strain it places on your cardiovascular system.	Over time, CPAP therapy can help reduce blood pressure, particularly in sleepers with hypertension linked to sleep apnea.
MOOD	Sleep deprivation from untreated sleep apnea can lead to mood changes, irritability, and even depression or anxiety.	Better sleep can lead to improved mood, reduced irritability, and overall better mental health.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT	Difficulty in losing weight or unexplained weight gain can occur due to metabolic changes associated with poor sleep.	Improved sleep may help regulate your metabolism, making it easier to manage your weight.

It may take some time to get used to wearing the CPAP mask and sleeping with the machine. Initial discomfort or difficulty falling asleep is common but usually improves. Some users also experience nasal congestion or dryness, which can often be managed with a humidifier attachment. Finding the right mask fit is crucial to prevent air leaks and ensure comfort.

In the next section, we look at how you can get a hold of a CPAP machine.

How Do I Get A Sleep Apnea Machine?

Obtaining a sleep apnea machine typically involves a few steps, beginning with a diagnosis and prescription from a healthcare provider. These include:

Get Diagnosed: As we briefly mentioned above, a sleep study is essential for diagnosing sleep apnea. Your sleep specialist will analyze the results and determine if CPAP or another type of machine is appropriate for your condition.

Obtain a Prescription: Sleep apnea machines, including CPAP, BiPAP, and ASV, require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. This prescription will specify the type of machine and the settings needed to treat your sleep apnea.

Choose a CPAP Supplier: Once you have a prescription, you’ll need to select a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier that provides sleep apnea machines. Your doctor’s office may refer you to a supplier, or you can choose one based on your insurance coverage. Check with your health insurance provider to determine which DME suppliers are covered and what portion of the cost is covered by insurance. Some suppliers offer rental options, which can reduce upfront costs.

Machine Fitting and Customization: Your DME supplier will help you select a CPAP machine that meets your needs and fits your prescription. You’ll also be fitted for a mask, which is crucial for comfort and effectiveness. Masks come in various styles, including full-face masks, nasal masks, and nasal pillows. The supplier will also help set up the machine with the correct pressure settings as prescribed by your doctor.

Trial and Adjustment Period: It may take some time to adjust to using a CPAP machine. During this period, it’s important to communicate with your healthcare provider and supplier about any discomfort or issues with the machine or mask. Adjustments to the fit or pressure settings may be necessary.

Follow-Up and Compliance: Regular follow-ups with your sleep specialist are important to monitor your progress and ensure the treatment is effective. Compliance with CPAP therapy is crucial for managing sleep apnea and preventing related health issues. Many modern CPAP machines have compliance monitoring features that track usage and provide data to your healthcare provider.

Maintenance and Replacement: Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the machine and replacing filters, is essential for ensuring the machine’s longevity and effectiveness. Masks and other accessories may need to be replaced periodically. Your DME supplier can provide guidelines on when to replace parts and how to maintain your equipment.

In the next section, we look at supporting reasons for a CPAP machine, that is, why this form of therapy is the most recommended to treat sleep apnea.

How Does CPAP Therapy Help With Sleep Apnea?

CPAP therapy works by delivering a constant stream of air pressure through a mask that you wear over your nose, or over both your nose and mouth, while you sleep. This pressurized air serves several crucial functions in managing sleep apnea:

• Maintains Airway Patency: The continuous air pressure delivered by the CPAP machine acts as a splint to keep the upper airway open, preventing the soft tissues in the throat from collapsing and blocking the airway during sleep.
• Prevents Apneas: By keeping the airway open, CPAP therapy stops the apneas (pauses in breathing) that characterize sleep apnea. This allows for normal breathing patterns to continue throughout the night.
• Regulates Oxygen Levels: CPAP ensures that the body receives a steady supply of oxygen during sleep, which prevents the drops in oxygen levels that can occur during apneas. This helps prevent the strain on the heart and other organs caused by oxygen deprivation.
• Reduces Micro-Arousals: Each time an apnea occurs, the brain briefly wakes the body to resume breathing. These micro-arousals disrupt the natural sleep cycle and prevent deep, restorative sleep. CPAP therapy minimizes these disruptions, leading to better sleep quality. 

Next, let’s explore some key signs that suggest it might be time to consult a medical professional if you suspect your symptoms could be related to sleep apnea.

When To See A Doctor

Here are signs indicating that you may be experiencing sleep apnea and need proper treatment, perhaps by using a CPAP Machine:

• Persistent Snoring: Loud, chronic snoring, especially when accompanied by gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing during sleep, is a strong indicator of sleep apnea.
• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: If you frequently feel extremely tired or fall asleep during the day, even after a full night’s sleep, this could be a sign of sleep apnea. This symptom can also increase the risk of accidents, especially while driving or falling asleep at work.
• Waking Up Gasping or Choking: Experiencing episodes where you wake up gasping for air or choking can indicate that your airway is being blocked during sleep, a hallmark of sleep apnea.
• Morning Headaches: Frequent morning headaches that improve as the day progresses can be linked to the oxygen deprivation caused by sleep apnea.
• Mood Changes or Cognitive Issues: If you’re experiencing mood swings, depression, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating, and these issues persist despite other treatments, sleep apnea could be a contributing factor.
• High Blood Pressure: If you have high blood pressure, particularly if it’s difficult to control with medication, sleep apnea might be an underlying cause.
• Sleep Partner’s Observations: Sometimes, a bed partner may notice symptoms that you’re unaware of, such as snoring, pauses in breathing, or restlessness. Their observations can be crucial in identifying sleep apnea. 

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can significantly impact your health and quality of life. Understanding the reasons for CPAP therapy, how it works to manage sleep apnea, and when to seek medical advice are crucial steps in addressing this condition effectively. By taking action and adhering to recommended treatments, such as CPAP, you can prevent the complications associated with sleep apnea, improve your sleep quality, and enhance your overall well-being. Regular communication with your healthcare provider is key to managing sleep apnea and ensuring that your treatment is tailored to your specific needs.